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NOT TRUE..You can use any Windows XP Home diskette and when it ask for product key you can enter the one on the desktop instead of using the one that came with the Windows XP Home Disk itself. I have one disk and have installed it on over 20 computers using the COA on the computer. Once you buy the computer case/tower if it has a COA on it ..YOU OWN THE COA and PRODUCT CODE....So the answer is yes if you know someone that has a Windows XP Home disk you can use it and your own COA..Thanks

Your best bet is to borrow a WinXP Home Edition CD from a friend.Depending on when you bought your computer and the company you bought it from, Windows XP will look a little different at boot (for example, I have a Dell, and when I format with a fresh install of Windows, it puts a Dell Bios loading screen up.) But every XP disk is the same.You are in luck that you have a key.

Another venue could be looking on EBay for reinstall disks.I'm sure there are a few out there, but the safety of your computer can be compromised by using a foreign disk.